Machine-gun mount



J. F. BUTLER MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Feb. 25, 192'? Feb. 2s, 192s.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY w1 mms: l W

Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,595

J. F. BUTLER MACHINE GUN MOUNT 6 E Q o o E o o 6:; l o 0 L N Q NJose/D7) /1- Baile? WITNESSWAM ATTORNEY 2s? 192s. 1,660,595l J. F.BUTLER MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Feb. 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f-T-lHILIII INVENTOR 1 7" ,l v l.

WITNESS: my ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,595

J. F. BUTLER MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Feb. 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,595 l 'J. F. BUTLER MACHINE GUN MOUNTFiled Feb. 25, 1927 s sneet's-sheet 5 ventionbeing to provide a PatentedFeb. 28.1928.

U'Ni'rao sra'ras 1.660.595 PATENT QFHCE Josarn F. BUTLER, or PITTSBURGH,rannsynvama.

MACHINE-GUN MOUNT.

.Application filed February 25, 1927. Serial No. 170,660.

their bullets will spray all parts of a certain area, the center ofwhich is coveredv bythe Vsights of the mount so. that a target in thisarea cannotescape being struck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bar which supports themuzzles of the guns and which is supported for rockwith eccentric meansconnected with one -I to provide means y so that the bar canbe givendlierent dethe mount, end

ing and sliding movement on of the bar for moving the same.

A still further object of the invention is for adjusting the eccentricgrees of movement.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a motor for driving theeccentric 'means and to `so form the adjustable means that adjustmentscan be made while-the motor is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to pro-I vide means for raising andlowering one end of some of the guns.`

This mventlon also consists 1n certain other features of constructionand in the Vsa combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described', illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims. j

In describing erence will be drawings wherein my invention in detail,refhad -to the accompanying like' characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and 1n whichzv Figure1 is an elevation showing the improved mount in use. p l Figure .2 is aplan view of the mount.

Figure 3 is a rear end view thereof. Figure 4 is a front end viewthereof. Figure 5 is' a section on line 5--5 of Figure 3. t

Figure 6 is ure 5.

Figure 7 is a section online 7--7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8- 8 of Figure 2. l

Figure 9 is a section on line 9--9 of Figure 2. Y

a section on line of Figof the guns so that' shaft of a motor 22supporte by Figure- 10 is a section on u line 1-10 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 2. y f Figure 12 is asection on line 12--12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a' section on line 13--13 of Figure 2.

Figure 14 is a section on Vligne 14k-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 1s a fragmentar. view of asupporting bar having-the `for edlend foren- 'gaging the eccentrlc pin.

VFigure 16 isa fragmentary view of another supporting bar, the pinengaging slot in which is vertlcally arranged.

In these views, 'the mount form having the depending anges 2 which carrythe trunnions 3 which are journaled in the upright=4 of the supportingframe' A which may be fastened to a rotatable platform when the'deviceis used as'an anti-aircraft gun. The toothed segment 5 is fastened toone of these flanges andengages the worm 6 on the shaft 7 which isadapted to be rotated by the hand wheel 8. This' will enable the mountto be rocked to train the guns on a target. This arrangement ofsupporting means for the mount is optional, as any suitable supportingmeans can be used with the improved mount.

A bar 9 is supported at. the front -of the frame or platform by meansofa roller` 10 which has its horizontal pintles 11 journaled a bearingwhich is rotatably mounted in the bearings 19 arranged 'at one end ofthe frame or mount. This drum has a ring gear 20 thereon which isengaged by a inion 21 of a the mount, sothat thedrum is driven by themotor. A second shaft 23 is mounted'in the bore 17 and telescopes theinner end of the shaft 16, the two shafts being keyed together, as shownat 24. A spiral groove 25 1s formed in the shaft 23 and is en aged by ain 26 carried by the drum. A ob 27 is readed in an opening formed asupport 28 is shown at 1 y and is 1n the form of a flat frame or platina bracket 12'fastened to the platform and ythis roller has a hole 13therein for slidingly receiving as the roller 10 and it will be fastenedto the frame or mount and the inner end of the knob is formed with anannular interior groove 29 which receives a collar or lange 30 on theend'of the shaft 23 so that as the knob is turned, it will be' movedlongitudinally in the threaded hole in the support 28 and lthus theshaft 23 will be caused to move longitudinally with thc knob and thegroove 25 and pin 26 will cause the shaft 23 to rotate as it is beingmoved longitudinally and thus the shaft 16 will be rotated to change theposition of the eccentric pin 15. As will be seen, this p1n can be movedto the center of the drum where it will be in a neutral position and itwill not move the bar 9, but when it has been moved out of this neutralposition, the bar 9 will be rocked on its pivot formed by reciprcated1ongitudinally. It vwill also be seen that the pm can be adjustedthrough means of the knob 27 while the drum is in motion.

A pointer 31 is carried by the support 28 and cooperates with a scale ordial 32 on the knob to indicate the amount of vadjustment of the parts.

hinged to the bar,

The machine guns are shown at B and these guns may be of any suitabletype. The muzzles of the guns are held in supporting members 33 whichare fastened to the bar 9,

the drawings showing two of the guns arranged at one sidevot' thepivotal point 10 of the bar and another pair of guns are arranged on theother side of the vpivotal point, but it will, of course, be understoodthat an desired number of gunsl may be used. Anti- -friction bearings 34support the muzzles of the guns in the members 33 so lthat the muzzlescan have free movement in thesupporting members.

' One of these supporting members is j as shown at 35, so that it can berocked, and the means'for so rocking the supporting member comprises ashaft 36 havlng one end j ournaled in a bracket 37 fastened to the mountadjacent the bar 9, with an arm 38 on the shaft which is connected eunderstood that others of the guns can be Y so supported.

The'means for rocking the shaft 36 comprises a' shaft 40 carried .by therear of the mount and having a worm 41 thereon which engages a worm gear42 on-the rear end ,of the shaft 36 sov that handle'43 of the shaft 40,the shaft 36 will be rotated to raise or lower the sup orting member33'.' The shaft 36 is forme inv sec- 4this bar 9 shown one of thesemuzzle supf porting members hinged, it will, of course,

by turning the crank tions which are connected together by the iexiblejoints 36.

In order to permit the muzzle ends of the guns to be adjusted, the rearends of the guns must be movably sup orted The guns on the left handside of hpigure-2 are supported for this movement by being fastened tothe bases 44, each base having a square stem 45 which endsin a sphericalmember 46, said member beingheld in a socket formed by an upright 47 andits cap 48, the upright being fastenedto the rear part of the mount orframe. An angle bracket 49 is pivotally secured tothe top of the cap 48and has a slot' O-therein which forms va guideway for the square stem45. This construction permits the rear end of the gun to movehorizontally.-

these stems are rotatably mounted between the clamping jaws52 rotatablymounted on a screw shaft 53 which is adjustable in a threaded socketinthe upright 47', a handle 54 being connected with the upper end of thescrew shaft to permit it to 'be adjusted. Thus these guns can also havetheir rear parts moved vertically and horizontally and these gunscanlalso be raised and lowered through means of the shaft 53.

A front sight 55 is supported by a V- shaped bracket 56 extendinginwardly from the front bar of the frame or mount and a rear sight isarranged on the rear bar of the frame or mount and consists of a groovedwheel 57 eccentricallymounted on a crank shaft 58 journaled in theuprights l59 so lthat by turning the -crank handle, the grooved wheelforming the sight can be raised or lowered. These sights are in the samevertical bar 9.

A searchlight 60 is adjustably mounted on oney end of the frame.

As before described, the bar is given both a reciprocatory movement anda rocking movement s o that the muzzle ends of the guns are moved in a.spiral but insome cases it may be desirable to simply move the muzzlesof the guns in a vertical arc and when this is desired, al bar 9 issubstitutedffor the-bar 9 and has a forked end 9 for receiving theeccentric pin. Y Thisl construction is shown in Figure 15. Thus the baris simply rocked on its fulcrum .after being recipr cated. f

I may also provide a bar 9x (Figure 16) to be substituted ,for the otherbars, which is :formed with a vertical slot 9 for receiving theeccentric pin so that this bar is sim;

in operation, the

the center of which is occupied by the object, and this area will be ofconsiderable dimensions owing to the movements imparted to the muzzlesof the guns by the eccentric in. This area can be increased and diminis1 ed as the ring is taking place by turning the knob 27 to adjust theeccentric pin as it is being rotated by the drum. The area can also beincreased by raising and lowering the gun or guns, which have their4muzzle supports hinged to the bar. justable eccentric, the guns can befired at a. dead center by placing the pin in a neutral position' sothat the rotation of the drum lwill not change its position. Then byturning the knob. the pin can be moved from a neutral position so as toimpart movement to the muzzles of the guns to scatter the `shots and theradius of the spiral in whichAV each muzzle is moving can be changed byturning the' knob. Thus a target out of range without being struck afterthe sights have been trained on it. As before.

stated, by the use of a bar providedvwith a horizontal` slot, the gunmuzzles can be moved vertically, while with the use of a har having avertical slot, the muzzles of the guns can be moved in a horizontalplane. The sights are held on the target and then the guns areautomatically moved to throw their bullets in a wide area to the targetso that itis not necessary to sight the guns on a target. While thisdevice is shown for use on an anti-aircraft gun, it will, of course, beunderstood that it can be used on aircraft and it can also be, used inother situations. Y

The invention can also be usedl in units of -one gun, one eccentricshaft. and one actuating bar with two or more units arranged on onemount 4and driven rom'the same motor.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it lto be understood that I may make changes in theconstructionand in the combination and arrangement of. the severalparts,` provided that such changes fall within the sco of the appendedclaims.

What claim is:-

1. A machine gun mount comprising a,

frame, a plurality of machine guns carried thereby. means for movablyconnecting the rear ends of the frame, amovabe member at the front ofthe `frame, means for supporting the member so that it can have rockingandsliding movement, means for movably connecting the Y muzzle ends oftheguns to said member and means for giving saidmember a combinedsliding androcking movement. A j f 2. A machinegun ymount comprising aframe, a plurality ofmachine guns carried thereby,rmeans for `4movablyconnecting the rear ends of the guns to the rear part of With the ad.

cannot get tothe rear partof the.

the frame, a movable member at the front of the frame, means for movablyconnecting the muzzle ends of the gunsv to said member, a drum carriedby the frame, an eccentric pin carried b the drum and engaging themovable mem )er to actuate the same, means for rotating the drum andmeans for. adjusting the eccentric in relation to the drum. 3. A machinegun mount comprising a frame. a bar, means at the front of the frame forsupporting the bar sothat it will have sliding and rocking movement, adrum, an eccentric pin adjustably arranged on the end of the drum andengaging the lbar for moving the same, means for rotating the drum,

'a number 'of machine guns, bearing. mem-- supported on the bar forreceiving the muzzlcs of the guns, means at the rear of the frame formovably supporting the rear ends of the guns, such means permitting therear end'of each gun to be moved vertically and horizontallyl l 5. Amachine gun. mount comprising a frame, a4 drum rotatably mounted thereonand having an eccentrically arranged bore, a shaft mounted to rotate inthe bore, a pin eccentrically arranged on one end of the shaft andprojecting from the end of the drum manually -operated means forrotating the shaft to adjust the pin in relation to the drum, means forrotating the drum, a bar mounted on the frame for sliding and rockingmovement and having one end engaged by the pin, a plurality of machineguns, ball bearing means carried by the bar Y or. receiving the muzzlesof the guns and means forv movably supporting the rear ends of the gunsat the rear of the frame.

6. A machine gun mount comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mountedthereon and having .an eccentrically arranged bore, a shaft mounted torotate in the bore, a pin eccentrically arranged-:on 'one end of theshaft and vprojectingffrom the end of the drnm, manual1 operated meansfor rotating the Ashaftto a 'ustthe pin in relation to the -drum,.meansor rot-ating thel drum, a bar Cil with the bar, means for moving themember: on its hinge and means for movably supporting the rear ends ofthe guns at the rear .of the frame.

v7. `A machine gun mount comprising a frame, front and rear sightscarried thereby and arranged at the center of the frame, a lrotatablemember at the front of the frame at 4the center thereof, said memberhavin a a number` of `interchangeable bars adapted to be operated by theeccentric pin,

. l one bar having a bearing at one end. for engaging lthe pin, anotherbar having a longi- "tudinal slot therein for engaging they pin andathird bar having a vertical slot at one.

end thereof for engaging the pin, means at the. front ofthe frame in'thejcenterl thereof g forming a support-for any one of the bars,

means carried b the bal-s for supporting the muzzles of mac ine guns,means at the rear..

of the frame for' movably supporting the -rear ends of the machine gunsand means for rotating the drums. Y

9. :A machine gun mount comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted atone side thereof, an eccentric pin carried by. the drum, 4

a number of interchangeable bars adapted lto 'be operated byltheeccentric pin, one bar port foranyone of the bars,

having a bearing at one end for enga' ing the pin, another bar 'having alongitudinal slot therein for engaging the pin and a third bar having avertical' slot at one end thereof for.

engaging the pin,`me a'ns at 'the'frontof the frame in the centerthereof forming a supbythe bars' for supporting the muz 'zles of withthe knob'.

means carried ma'chine uns, means at the rear of the frame pin on theend of the drum.

10. A machine gun mount comprising frame, a plurality of machine gunscarrled thereby, `a drum rotatably mounted on the frame, and having aneccentric bore therein, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bore, aneccentric pin on the shaft means operated by the pin for movingsimultaneously the muzzles of the guns,lmanually operated means forrotating the shaft to adjust the pin While the drum is moving andindicator means for indicating thez extent of movement of the manuallyoperated means.

11. In a devicefof the class described, a drum rotatably supported andhaving an eccentric bore, a shaft rotatably mounted in one end of thebore, ,an eccentric pin carried the shaft, a second shaft rotatablymountin the other end of the bore and telescoping-with the first shaft,a key connecting'lthe'Y two shafts together, lthe second shaft aving aspiral groove therein, a pin carried by Y the drum engaging the groove,a knob, means for causing longitudinal movement of the knob when the.same is rotated, and means for movably connecting'the knob-With thesecond shaft so that the shaft will be moved 1.2; A machine gun mountcomprising a frame, a bar, means at the front ofthe frame for supportingthe-bar sothat it will have sliding and rocking` movement, an eccentricdevice for movin the banimeans for operating the eccentric evice, agun,^abear ing member for the muzzle of the gun Sup- .ported on the bar,and means at the rear end of the gun.

. In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

JOSEPH F. BUTLER.v

of the frame for movably supporting therear

